Belt buckle



D. KRASNOW ETAL 2,905,994

BELTBUCKLE Filed Jan. 17, 1956 Sept. 29, 1959 INVENTORS DA /D KPfiS/VOFlt/j r Un d State Patent ihvhtionrel'ates to for belt s, ;straps andthe like and mer specifically to an improved-buckle for Waistb'eltsaffording means for releasably holding both the flexible: belt materialto; the buekleand a'belt loop for receiving the free end vof the beltafter engagement with the tonguea'ridlddp ofthe'buckle'i" Oiie 'ebj'ectof-theinvention resides the provision of an improved buck-1e having-acombination and arrange nie'nt of elements-forreleasably-hbldin g aflexible belt arid-belt loop' that-ischar-aeterized by its simplicity;effe otiven'ess and low-costa -While the invention is of geriefalusefulness it-is particularly adaptable for use" on mens and womensbelts enabling thewearer 'to a'djust the size of the belt and at thesame time giving the appearance of a conventional belt wherein the beltand buckle are permanently secured one to the other.

Another object of the invention is an improved buckle for belts, strapsand the like that enables the belt, buckle and belt loop to be assembledquickly and easily without the need for special tools or equipment. Inthis Way belting, matching or contrasting loops and the buckle can beassembled to meet the desires of an individual purchaser withoutnecessitating the maintenance of large stocks of belts in various sizesand colors.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of animproved buckle for belts wherein the buckle frame includes meanspivotally attached thereto for releasably holding one end of a belt andmeans for securing a belt loop. In the case of waist belts forming partof one wearing apparel, the invention not only enables the wearer toadjust the belt length but also permits replacement of both the belt andbelt loop should they become damaged or worn.

A still further object of the invention is a new and improved beltbuckle.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent from the following description and accompanying drawingsforming part of this application.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a buckle in accordancewith the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along the line 22thereof with the belt retaining loop in place on the buckle;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations of a fragmentary portion of theinvention illustrating a modification thereof; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are bottom and side views of still another modified formof the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to Figs. 1 to 3thereof, the buckle in accordance with the invention includes a frame10, a buckle loop 12 and a cooperating tongue 14 for engagement with abelt when the latter is fed through the buckle loop 12.

The buckle loop 12 may have any desired configuration and is preferablyprovided with a generally cylindri- Patented" Sept 29, *1'959 ealtransverse portion 13 for. coupling the loop. ,to-tlie" buckleframe10qlathe specific embodiment of-the;in-- vention the buckle loop 12isfabricated of a=single-pieceof metalbent i n the form of-a rectanglewith the transverse member 13 being formed by bending the ends "of therod'14 and l5 inwardly one-oftheother to'form a substantially closedloop with the; gap betweentheends 1:4 and IS beingt ofiset from thecenter. thereof.- The frame.lll is'provided*with a pairof lugs or tabs-16 and- 1 7Y-thlat are-ispacedone from the other toyleave agapilstherebetween, These 'tabs are bent about the trans-- verse member 13of the-buckle loop,12 as showninJ- igcl? to secure the frame to the loopwiththe loop 16 covering thegaprb'etween" the ends; 14 and 15 ofthe loop12 and forming part of the transverse member 13-. "The tgmgue 1'is=pivotally supported by the transverse mem ber1' 3, and"within the gap 18and it may -be; installed either"b ef'ore,or afterthe buckle loopandframe are scured'ftogetlien The tongue 19 overlaps the outer endofftli'elfoop. llfand'func'tions to engage-an openingdna strapfjirisertedtlirough the loop- 12';

The" frame 10 is"pro'vide'd with a pair of rearwardly. extending walls20"and'21, each havingaslot 22'for the reception of!a"fleXible'belt-loop-2'3L The belt 106 3123 is preferably formedfofleat'he'r or: other material match h 1 t I j ai siiitabilemetaii clipwith fielti ts 12 bit slot 22. The tabs 26 are preferably rounded sothat they will not catch or damage any fabric that may contact the backside of the buckle. With this arrangement the flexible belt loop 23 canbe readily and easily inserted within the slot 22 after fabrication ofthe buckle as previously described and if desired the loop 23 can beremoved from the slots 22 for replacement or insertion of a differentloop. In normal practice the width of the frame 10 is preferably madeequal to or slightly narrower than the belt 24 with which the buckle isto be used so that when the belt end is engaged with the buckle loop 12and tongue 19 and then inserted through the belt loop 23 it will coverthe frame 10 and give the appearance of a conventional buckle whereinthe belt is permanently secured to the buckle loop.

The frame 10 further includes means for releasably securing the belt 24to the frame 10 and comprises generally an S-shaped member or clamp 27extending between the Walls 20 and 21 and pivoted thereto by outwardlyextending pins 28 arranged to engage cooperating openings in the walls.To insert the belt 24 into the buckle the S-shaped member 27 is rotatedin a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 and the end of the belt 24is inserted between the clamp 27 and the frame body 10. The clamp 27 isthen rotated in a counter clockwise direction whereupon the edge 29 ofthe clamp 27 engages the belt and rotates until the rounded portion 30of the clamp 27 bears against the underside of the belt 24. Thisautomatically locks the belt 24 in position in the buckle. The righthand end 31 of the clamping member 27 is curved outwardly as illustratedin order to facilitate release of the clamp and removal of the belt 24from the buckle.

With the buckle as described above both the belt 24 as well as the beltloop 23 are removably secured to the buckle and enable the ultimate userof the belt to modify its length to meet his particular needs. Moreover,the belt loop 23 can be selected independently of the belt 24 so thatthe purchaser may have either a matching or contrasting loop. Thisprocedure not only facilitates selection of the belt on the part of thepurchaser but greatly reduces the stock a retailer must maintain inorder to meet the needs of his customers. For instance, a re- Then, too,if a belt becomes worn or broken the user need' only replace the beltand belt loop and thereby avoid the cost of an additional buckle. 1

In certain instances it may be desirable to provide a complete closurefor the slots 22 in the frame 10 shown in Fig. 1. One procedure for theattainment of the end is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In this modificationone of the tabs 26 is made somewhat larger and is denoted in thesefigures by the numeral 26'. The tab 26 actually extends slightly beyondthe cooperating tab 26 and is disposed outwardly therefrom to leave asmall opening 32 for insertion of the belt loop 23. After the loop is inplace the tab 26' is depressed as shown in Fig. 5 to slightly overlapthe tab 26 and completely close the slot 22.

Still another modification of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 6and 7. In this modification the belt loop 23 is secured to the frame bya pair of tabs 33 and 34 punched from the metal forming the frameitself. The tab 33 in this embodiment of the invention is connected withthe frame 10 along the line 33 While the tab 34 is connected to theframe 10 along the line 34'. In the fabrication of the buckle these tabsare bent outwardly from the underside of the frame 10 to form an angleof about 45 degrees and the belt loop 23 is then inserted beneath bothtabs. The tabs are then pressed downwardly in place as shown in Fig. 7with the ends 34 thereof being provided with a slight reverse bend tosecurely retain the loop 23 and prevent any possiiblity of the ends ofthese tabs snagging clothing or fabric which it may contact.

While only certain embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it is apparent thatmodifications, alterations and changes maybe made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

A buckle comprising a plate having front, rear and side edges, a buckleloop pivotally secured to said front edge of the plate, side wallsjoined to said side edges and disposed in planes substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the plate, and means carried by said sidewalls and positioned near the rear edge of the plate for releasablysecuring a belt to said buckle, each of said side walls having a slotsubstantially midway between the ends of the plate for accommodating andholding a belt loop in encircling relationship to theplate for receivingthe end of said belt when engaged in said buckle loop, each slotextending lengthwise of its associated side wall and opening in theouter edge thereof with said edge opening being less than the width ofthe slot to permit engagement of the belt loop with the slot and retainit in position therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

